A study of nearly 70,000 people by the Healthcare Commission found more than half also had problems getting through to their surgery on the telephone.

There were wide variations in appointment waits – half of patients in parts of London waited more than two days for an appointment, but only seven per cent in Wirral, Cheshire.

Nearly one in three patients surveyed in Rotherham waited at least two days, but only nine per cent in North Lincolnshire.

Overall in England 41 per cent of people wanting an appointment were seen the same day while 33 per cent waited one or two days.

A quarter of people had been put off visiting their GP at some point because of inconvenient opening times, up from 21 per cent in 2005.

But the survey carried out between January and April showed younger people were more likely to find opening hours inconvenient, the figure rising to 38 per cent among people aged 16 to 35.

A total of 26 per cent of all people questioned were unable to book an appointment three or more days in advance, although this figure was down on the 30 per cent recorded in 2005.

The worst access for appointments in advance in the region was in Bradford, the East Riding and North Lincolnshire and the best in Barnsley, Leeds and North Yorkshire.

In total, 23 per cent of patients who made an appointment felt that they should have been seen sooner, down on the 25 per cent who said the same thing in 2005.

A quarter of people saw dentists privately but a worrying 26 per cent had not seen a dentist for more than two years, rising to 39 per cent of people surveyed in Hull. Three quarters of people being treated privately wanted an NHS dentist.

Healthcare Commission chief executive Anna Walker said many patients had a high regard for GP services.

"However, people clearly do want to be able to see a GP more easily and at more convenient times," she said.

"It was striking that some people could not get an appointment within two days and that there are variations around the country.

"Access to NHS dental care is also a continuing concern and this survey shows where people are most worried about this around the country."

Leeds GP Richard Vautrey, deputy chairman of the British Medical Association's GP Committee, said: "With a limited number of appointments in any one day, practices try hard to strike a balance between making sure patients who want to book ahead can do so while ensuring there are enough empty appointments for emergencies."